If you're planning a beach vacation, you'd better get to it soon. That's because research shows that 67% of Southern California beaches will be gone by 2100 — all because of sand. Even if you don't think about the grainy stuff, you use it daily. Worldwide, we go through 50 billion tons of sand every year — twice the amount produced by every river in the world. It's used to make food, wine, toothpaste, glass, computer chips, breast implants, cosmetics, paper, paint, plastics. So where does it all come from? The sand we use is what's called "marine sand." It's the sand you find at the bottom of rivers, on beaches and at the bottom of lakes and oceans. So, why can't we use sand from the desert? Wind erosion makes the grains too round for most purposes. Short supply of sand and the environmental impacts have compelled many countries to take tough measures to control sand mining. It's time to treat sand as a scarce resource — just like water — to avoid running out of it.

Sunday, June 7, 2020

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On This Day

1968 Sirhan Sirhan is indicted for the assassination of US Senator Robert Kennedy. He was sentenced to life in prison. He has been up for parole 15 times, denied each time on the grounds that he has not expressed adequate remorse for his crime.

Fact of the Day

The 1883 Eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia was so loud that it was heard over 3,000 miles away, which is the equivalent of hearing a sound from Ireland while you are in Boston. It ruptured the eardrums of sailors over 40 miles away.

Nature Oddities

Rats can go up to 2 weeks without water, longer than camels, who can only go 3-5 days without water.

Food and Drink

English legend claims that the name “sirloin steak” comes from when King James I of England was so impressed by the quality of his steak that he knighted the loin of beef, which was referred to thereafter as “Sirloin.”